Draft key retainer lock



Aug. 5, 1952 E. sh/11TH 2,605,669

- DRAFT KEY RETAINER LOCK Filed June' 22, 1950 2 S1'EETS SHEET 1 INVENTOR.

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DRAFT KEY RETAINER LOCK Filed June 22, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 17 I J5. 27 f6. 16 E? :1 :i :2

#1 I: E ii I: I 19 {l J0 J f5 INVENTOR. iii 062761 gyso z 19127;?

Patented Aug. 5, 1 952 DRAFT KEY RETAINERi fO K 1 Edward Paysoil Smith, Winnetka} to Illinois Railway Equipment Company,

' cago, lll.,acorporation of lllinois l A n cafi j J n 1950, se i l. No-

My invention relates to a device for holding the standard T-type retainer in the draftkeys of railroad car draft rigging in place against accidental removal without, however, in any way interfering with the necessary free movement of the draft keys; namely, a device which obviates the need of the usual cotter pin and therefore complies with the Association of American Railroads requirements for means, other than the usual cotter pin, whereby the retainer will be locked against undesirable vertical movement and ultimate loss of the draft key retainer and possible loss ofthe draft key.

The invention also has for its object, the provision of a locking or holding device which will provide a full bearing on the retainer and also compensate for the necessary and desired angling of the retainer and movement of the draft key, while obviating the need for employing or supplementing the usual cotter pin.

The objects and advantages of my invention will all be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a draft key and the standard T-type retainer, with my improved locking means; a portion of a center sill being shown in section.

Figure 2 is an end view, as viewed from the lower end of Figure 1 with the locking means applied and the portion of the center sill omitted.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4: is a perspective view locking means.

of my improved -s claims.

Ill., assignor i As previously stated, the purpose of my improved retainer lock is to hold the retainer in proper position against vertical upward movement outof the'draft key while at the same time permit necessary angling or desired partial normal rotation during train operation without, however, getting into a jamming relation with the car center sill.

My improvedlocking means consists of a single piece member or forging l5 having a vertically disposed body portion I6 which slopes to ward opposite sides from the vertical median line. particularly on the-retainer facing side as more clearly seen in Figures 1 and 4," to provide flat bearing surfaces for the retainer during angling conditions. The top of the body'portion [6 has an overhanging head or'flange I'I disposed toward the retainer head facing side of the lock member and said head or flange I1 is adapted to overlie the retainer head. M as shown in Figuresi and 3, V v

The opposite'orouter side of' the lock member I5, at the base of fthemain body portion I8 is provided with a flange i8; shown extending sub- My improved locking means as exemplified in the drawings is intended for use with the A. A. R.

standard draft key shown at In for associating the draft rigging with the usual car center sill beams; a portion of one being shown in section at H in Figure 1; the draft key passing through suitable slots in the sills; the slots being of length somewhat greater than the usual width of the key to permit proper play and operation of the springs of the draft rigging. The T-type draft key retainer is indicated at [2 and consists of a large pin portion or shank l2 of length sufficient to pass through the heavy draft key l0, and the pin portion is usually provided with a transverse hole to receive the usual cotter pin shown at I3; while the upper end of the pin has an elongated head M which normally is intended to extend transversely of the draft key as shown with one of the fiat sides of the head arranged substantially parallel with the center sill I I.

stantiallyparallel with the head or flange l1 and at right angles to the body portion and disposed, toward the tail end ofthe draft key H) on which it rests.

The distance between the head flange l1 and flange I8 preferably is made greater than the thickness of the head M of the standard retainer so as to maintain the head [1 out of pressing contact with the top H of the retainer, as more clearly shown in Figure 3, when the lock member is in fully applied position and thus not subject the retainer to frictional pressure which would interfere with the desired normal or free rotary movement of the retainer induced by the retainer contacting the side of the center sill caused by the car going around a curve.

The opposite ends of the body portion I 6 terminate in the two vertical or downwardly extending pins or legs i9, I9, preferably cylindrical as shown in Figure 4 and of length sufficient to extend entirely through the comparatively thick bar or draft key Ill and'extend therebeneath as seen in Figure 3 and permit the exposed ends to be spread or slightly bent, after assembly as shown at l9a in Figure 2, thereby securing the lock member in looking position against upward the distal end with a pair of comparatively small holes arranged equal distances on opposite sides of the longitudinal median line of the draft key and adapted to receive the legs l9, I9 of the lock member. ber is adapted to be used with the standard type draft key without modification in the latter except for drilling orproviding the two holes just mentioned; U Q i As is apparent from the lock construction, the two spaced apart legs willprevent any rotary movement on the part of the lock, while the retainer facing oppositely sloping sides of the lock- That is to say, my improved lock memby rotary movement of the lock member and vertical movement of the retainer are prevented and a predetermined degree of rotative movement permitted.

2. A draft key retainer lock forging provided at the top with a laterally disposed head portion adaptedto overlie the retainer head and prevent upward movement of theretainer and the head portion on its side having oppositely sloping retainer facing surfaces adapted to separately contact the retainer and provide wide bearing relation whereby the retainer is restricted to prescribed rotary-movements, the lower part of the permit the retainer to have the required degree of rotary movement when the car isgoing around.

a curve; the oppositely sloping faces act as stops against the too far or ninety degree rotation. of

the retainer where its head would contactand' become wedged against the center sill with'thei,

possibility of being sheared off.

The. outwardly facing'flange l8 provides a relatively large area-which rests on. the draft key. and tends to. decrease wear and at the same time. it limits the down-Ward movement Iof. the lock.

member and in the'event. thelock member is reversely applied, the fiange l'8would-engage the.

top of. the. retainer head' and. prevent the. lock member from seating properly and the legsfrom projecting. through. the draft key,'.. thereby. indicating tothe operatonthatthe lock member is improperly applied. f T r I have shown and. described what I believe to be the best adaptation of my invention, but structuralmodificationsare possible and may be made without, however, departing from. the. spirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.'

What Iclaim l. A draft} keyretai'ner. lockcomprising. a vertical bodyportion. providedonoppositesides-of the vertical median line with oppositely sloping faces on its retainer facing side and. a laterally disposed headportion adaptedto, overhang the head of the retainenithe, body portion at .opposite. endsfhavingdepending, legs of predetermined length adaptedto'pass through openings in thedraft key. intermediate. the. retainer re ceivingv opening in. the draft key andthe tail end. thereof and to extend therebeneath, thelower;

ends of said legs beingbendable laterally, wheremember having laterally spaced draft key pin portions'adapted-to pass through the draft key.

' 3. The combination, with a draft key provided with an opening adjacent its tail end therethrough; a' retainer for the key insertable through said opening and having an elongated head and a pair of laterally spaced openings in the draft key intermediate said retainer-receiving opening and the tail. end of they key,of a retainer lock member consisti'ngoi" a body portion having oppositely sloping retainer head-engaging surfaces on onposite sides ofits verticalmedian line separately engageable with the retainer headduring angular. movement,'said body portion having at top a laterally. disposed flange. adaptedflto overlie the retainer head. and arearwardly disposed flange portion at adistance removedsomewhat greater than the thickness of the retainer head so as to normally maintain the first'mentioned flange out of immediate contact with the retainer head, the body portion of thelock member having a pair of laterally spaced depending elongated pin portions of length'adapted to extend entirelythrough said pair of openings of'the draft'key so as to depend .therebeneath, the lower ends of? said .depending pin portions being laterally bendable. to prevent vertical removalof the lock member.

EDWARD PAYSON SMITH.

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